NEW BOSTON - Coach Alvin Carpenter wants the Symmes Valley Vikings to finish what they start.

The Vikings squandered a big lead as the New Boston Tigers rallied for 76-72 Southern Ohio Conference win Friday night.

The lead was 12 points in the third quarter, but New Boston came back in the fourth quarter to deal the Vikings their first loss of the season.

"We had a 10 or 12 points lead and couldn't put them away," Carpenter said. "We're young, so we have to learn how to protect a lead and not play tentative."

Elswick scored five in the first quarter as the Vikings moved in front 18-14.

5 in the first. Matt Marshall kept New Boston close with eight points.

Michael White got six points in second quarter but Greg Mauk had eight for the Tigers who got within 36-33 at the break.

Cory Burcham had seven points in the third quarter as Symmes Valley extended its lead to 60-53.

After New Boston rallied to take the lead, Kyle Gilmore just missed on a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left that would have tied the score. Zach Messer and Aaron Spriggs combined to make four foul shots and secure the win.

The Vikings were just 19 of 73 from the field for 26 percent including 3 of 18 in the fourth quarter.

"We just didn't hit our shots," Carpenter said.

Gilmore scored 14 points to lead four Vikings in double figures. Gilmore also had five assists.

Burcham finished with 13 points while Elswick and Jarod Shafer had 10 each. White hauled down 12 rebounds and Seth Colegrove grabbed seven.

Messer's 17 points paced New Boston, 4-1 and 2-0. Mauk scored 16, Marshall 13 and Spriggs 11.

Despite falling to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the SOC, Carpenter was pleased with the team's effort.

"I kept telling the kids that they were not going to give up because they were too good of a team," Carpenter said. "And they never did. They battled all the way to the last second. We made some mistakes, but we'll learn from them. It's a long season, so we'll be okay."

Sym. Valley18182412-72

New Boston14192023-76

SYMMES VALLEY (3-1, 2-1):

Chris Elswick 3 0 4-4 10, Kyle Gilmore 0 4 2-3 14, Cory Burcham 3 2 1-2 13, Craig Neal 0 0 0-1 0, Chase Higgins 0 0 2-2 2, Seth Colegrove 4

0 0 0-0 0, Jarod Shafer 3 1 1-4 10, Michael White 4 0 0-1 8, Justin Holland 2 0 2-5 6. Totals: 19-73

(7)

13-24

72. Fouls: 24. Fouled out: White, Colegrove, Shafer. Rebounds: 28 (White 12, Colegrove 7). Assists: 11 (Gilmore 5). Turnovers: 18.

NEW BOSTON (4-1, 2-0):

Aaron Spriggs 5 0 3-4 11, Marty Mohr 0 0 1-3 1, Matt Marshall 6 0 1-3 13, Greg Mauk 4 1 5-10 16, Michael Day 5 1 2-3 15, Zach Messer 2 1 8-10 17, Brandon Hemming 1 0 1-2 3. Totals: 23

3

21-37

76. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.